J. Biol. Today's World. 2016 Apr; 5 (4): 65-75 ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ Journal of Biology and Today's World Journal home page: http://journals.lexispublisher.com/jbtw Received: 09 March 2016 • Accepted: 22 April 2016 Research doi:10.15412/J.JBTW.01050402 This pdf is live generated for IP: 87.107.173.75, Date: 15/6/2016 by Lexis Press! A survey on Non-Venomous Snakes in Kashan (Central Iran) Rouhullah Dehghani1, Nasrullah Rastegar pouyani2, Bita Dadpour3*, Dan Keyler4, Morteza Panjehshahi5, Mehrdad Jazayeri5, Omid Mehrpour6, Amir Habibi Tamijani7 1 Social Determinants of Health (SDH) Research Center and Department of Environment Health, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran 2 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran 3 Addiction Research Centre, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran 4 Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation, Minneapolis, MN, United States 5 Health Center of Kashan University Medical Sciences and Health Services, Kashan, Iran 6 Atherosclerosis and Coronary Artery Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Science, Medical Toxicology and Drug Abuse Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran 7 Legal Medicine Research Center, Legal Medicine Organization, Tehran, Iran *Correspondence should be addressed to Bita Dadpour, Addiction Research Centre, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Tell: +985118525315; Fax: +985118525315; Email: [email protected]. ABSTRACT Due to the importance of animal bites in terms of health impacts , potential medical consequences, and the necessity of proper differentiation between venomous and non-venomous snake species, this study was conducted with the aim of identifying non-venomous, or fangless snakes, in Kashan as a major city in central Iran during a three-year period (2010- 2012). A total of 41 snakes were collected; 32(78%) Ravergier`s racer [Hemorrhois (Coluber) ravergieri], 3 (7%) Zebra Snake (Spalerosophis microlepis), 3 (7%) Braid Snake (Platyceps (Coluber) rhodorachis), one (2%) Desert Sand Boa (Eryxmiliaris), one (2%) Dice Snake (Natrixtessellata), and one (2%) Black-headed Snake (Rhynchocalamus melanocephalus). All snakes were taxonomically identified and confirmed to genus and species. All of the snakes were classified as Aglyphic with 97.5% belonging to the Colubridae family, and 2.5% to the Boidae family.Totally,six non- venomous species were identified, and Hemorrhois (Coluber) ravergieri was observed as the most abundant species in the city of Kashan, which is geographically located at the center of Iran. Although envenomation is usually a specific complication associated with venomous snakes, bacterial infections are a potential significant medical complication associated with both venomous and non-venomous snakebites. Key words: Snakes, Venomous, Non-Venomous, Kashan Copyright © 2016 Rouhullah Dehghani et al. This is an open access paper distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License. Journal of Biology and Today's World is published by Lexis Publisher; Journal p-ISSN 2476-5376; Journal e-ISSN 2322-3308. 1. INTRODUCTION is frequently the possibility of human encounters with iversity in climate and being a geographical snakes and resultant bites (2). Geographically, the largest communicating bridge between different number of snakebite deaths occurs in South and South East Dcontinents including Asia, Europe and Africa has Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa (3). The Iranian people have made Iran a rich source of various reptile species (1). always been at risk of animal bites and particularly Snakes are an important suborder of the order Squamata snakebite, which is known as an important medical (scaled reptiles), the Alethinophidia, which are easily problem in Iran. Vast expanses of different species of recognizable to humans in terms of their morphological venomous and non-venomous snakes are located in Iran, and behavioral characteristics. Approximately 3,700 types ranging from the southern islands situated in the Persian of snakes have been identified in a wide variety of habitats Gulf to the northern regions of the country (4, 5). A large in the world. Given this variety and wide distribution there number of cases of snake bite have been reported from 65 J. Biol. Today's World. 2016 Apr; 5 (4): 65-75 ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ these different regions of Iran each year (6). In general, snake have smooth scales on the dorsal body, while other species of snakes are distributed throughout the country’s species have dorsal body scales that are bladed with a varying habitats, especially in mountainous and semi- prominent line or keel in middle portion of the scale. mountainous areas, and in particular large expanses of Ventral scales in general are transverse, larger, and desert (7). At least 83 different species of snakes, including smoother than dorsal scales. Venomous, semi-venomous, 27 venomous species, 11 species of semi-venomous and non-venomous snakes may potentially bite any species (rear-fanged or non-front-fanged snakes), and 45 attacker or predator, aimed at defending itself. This may species of non-venomous snakes live in terrestrial or cause pain to the bitten site on the body as a result of aquatic environments (8, 9). Iran’s venomous snakes trauma from the teeth, and envenomation with semi- This pdf is live generated for IP: 87.107.173.75, Date: 15/6/2016 by Lexis Press! possess fangs, hollow-tube-shaped teeth that are located at venomous or venomous snakebites. Additionally, there is the anterior part of the mouth and upper jaw connecting to the potential for localized or generalized infection to a venom gland. Most of the venomous snakes species develop following the bite by any species (11, 12). native to Iran are vipers (family Viperidae), frequently Snakebites to humans have been considered a medical characterized by a triangular head with a distinctly defined problem in Iran for hundreds of years, historically ranging neck. Their tails are usually short, and their movement and from approximately 5609 to 5172cases during the 7 years locomotion is typically sluggish, except when striking to from 2002 to 2009. During the same years, registered bite. In some species of Viperid snakes, there is an orifice deaths were reported to have been 4 to 12 cases each year between the eyes; and nose that is easily recognizable, and (13, 14). In each geographic region, given the diversity of appears like a second nasal opening. These snakes are climate and species of snakes, bites by a given species may classified as pit vipers (subfamily Crotalinae). The true result in a wide range of local and systemic signs and vipers (subfamily Viperinae) do not possess the second symptoms may be anticipated after a bite to humans (15). facial orifice (or pit), which is an infrared heat-sensing In addition to the pain and localized or systemic infection organ. The majority of viper and pit viper species have that may be associated with snake bites, envenomation can tiny, asymmetrical scales on head, but a few have result in shock, acute kidney injury, coagulation disorders, symmetrical scales. Geographically, the dispersion of vascular damage and cardiomyopathy maybe consequently different snake species varies based on structural habitat, occur in some cases (6). Common complications following plant growth, and other environmental conditions. Non- snake envenomation often occur due to hemorrhagic or native snakes, those observed in habitat where they are not neurotoxic effects, which may be associated with expected to be found, are seen less frequently in these secondary infection. However, another important point is specific habitats except during periods of seasonal that the bite of non-venomous snakes also may cause migration. Snakes of the family Colubridaecan been bacterial infection (16). Abscess is the most common subdivided into two groups based on their dentition. manifestation of infection due to snakebite, and in a few Species considered non-venomous have simple round, instances has been suspected as one of causes of death (17, uniform teeth that are solid, and without grooves or a 18). Like other animals, various types of bacteria might be lumen, and are referred to as aglyphus. Their teeth are not recovered from infected snakebite wounds, which are most associated with a venom gland or advanced secretory often a reflection of the oral flora of the biting snake; gland. Colubrid species with fangs or enlarged teeth that although ingested prey and other food may influence the have open-lumen channels or grooves and are located in type of bacteria introduced with the bite. A variety of the posterior maxillary portion jaw are opisthoglyphus. pathogenic bacteria have been identified in cultures of These may be semi-venomous (ie. Malpolon venom and saliva of snake oral cavities (19). Given that monspessulanus, Montpellier or Yaleh snake - Iran), and a snakebite is a significant medical problem in Iran, and very few are venomous (ie. Dispholidustypus, boom slang often associated with complications ranging from - Africa) species. These species are frequently referred to envenomation